Guilt

An Alex Delaware Novel

By: Jonathan Kellerman

Narrated by: John Rubinstein

Length: 13 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

The number one New York Times best-selling author Jonathan Kellerman's "psychology skills and dark imagination are a potent literary mix" (Los Angeles Times), and this intensely thrilling blend has never been so powerful as in the acclaimed author's new novel of murder and madness among the beautiful dreamers, seductive predators, and doomed innocents adrift in the glare of Southern California's eternal sunshine.

A series of horrifying events occur in quick succession in the same upscale L.A. neighborhood. A backyard renovation unearths an infant's body, buried 60 years ago. And soon thereafter in a nearby park, another disturbingly bizarre discovery is made not far from the body of a young woman shot in the head. Helping LAPD homicide detective Milo Sturgis to link these eerie incidents is brilliant psychologist Alex Delaware. But even the good doctor's vast experience with matters both clinical and criminal might not be enough to cut down to the bone of this chilling case - and draw out the disturbing truth.

Backtracking six decades into the past stirs up tales of a beautiful nurse with a mystery lover, a handsome, wealthy doctor who seems too good to be true, and a hospital with a notorious reputation - all of them long gone, along with any records of a newborn, and destined for anonymity. But the specter of fame rears its head when the case unexpectedly twists in the direction of the highest echelons of celebrity privilege. Entering this sheltered world, Alex little imagines the macabre layer just below the surface - a decadent quagmire of unholy rituals and grisly sacrifice.

Before their work is done, Alex and Milo, "the most original whodunit duo since Watson and Holmes" (Forbes), must confront a fanatically deranged mind of such monstrous cunning that even the most depraved madman would shudder.

©2013 Jonathan Kellerman (P)2013 Random House Audio

Kellerman does not disappoint. Another great read.

Another great read by Jonathan Kellerman. Love John Rubinstein performance - does Milo Sturgis and Alex Deleware so great! Good plot - always keeps you guessing till the end. Good cast of characters with a few story lines going on. Very much enjoyed Guilt. In fact I could not stop listening - kept me up till the wee hours of the morning so...warning...make sure you have plenty of time to listen or have the will power to hit "pause". Highly recommend Guilt. If you have not read a Kellerman novel before, this is a good one to start with - gives you enough background on the two main characters so you don't feel you have missed out. Not sorry at all I pre-ordered this book. And, unlike some popular authors, Kellerman still delivers a long (time wise) novel even though his books are wildly popular. (Some authors give you only 6-7 hours per book.) Again, a great addictive read.

Alex & Milo at it again!

Second listening for me and it held my interest the whole way. Good story (a little dated, but, hey…) Excellent performance by Mr. Rubenstein. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Signature word

Guilt is a word that can resonate. Among Kellerman’s charms are his ability to turn a phrase and his Alex Delaware persistence in concluding things adequately. Combine the title with the talent and produce another winner. Well done👍

Dinner with an old Friend

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Reading an Alex Delaware novel is like having dinner with an old friend. It's just good company. I really enjoy the stories and the dialog between the main characters. This installment is just good entertainment Kellerman weaves a great story.

What does John Rubinstein bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Love the Milo Characterization

Jonathan Kellerman is an excellent storyteller

Waiting for the ...but? Dead children and women are beginning to pall on my mind. Perhaps I need to seek stories with more carefully crafted and less predictable mysteries?

You'll enjoy this if you've just dipped into the Alex Delaware stories. Kellerman is good at his work and produces a novel that flows well with plenty of suspense.

I'm just beginning to question the idea of making women and children the focus of crime in stories. It frightens me, considering the news.

And, look, I'm not blaming the genre for the uptick in violent crime. I'm in the process of questioning.

ALEX DELAWARE LIVES! BUT MILO HAS BECOME A GHOST!

What did you like about this audiobook?

Kellerman's "GUILT" is one of his better psychological thrillers to date. But not his best. This new Kellerman Novel relies heavily on Alex Delaware's quirky and methodical way that he gathers the smallest of clues and slowly, sometimes achingly so, pieces them together to solve the multiple murder case. It is true that this book can be annoyingly slow at times, but that is mostly because we, the reader, spend a great deal of our time tumbling through Alex Delaware's grey matter.

How has the book increased your interest in the subject matter?

Kellerman's Novel "VICTIMS" was slightly better book because it was faster paced. But Kellerman has brought a more complex Alex Delaware character to light in his new book "GUILT" Hopefully he continues to expand Alex's participation in solving more murder mysteries. However, the expansion of the Delaware character, and the flow of the story, should not be at the expense of the Milo Sturgess charecter. The Milo charecter seemed stunted and dull in this new novel. And because of this the pace of the story slows. I love to see Delaware helping the police as much as I love to see him in his true therapist/client role. There is a place, a determined place, for each. A delicate balance of the Delaware/Sturgess characters and a set of murder mysteries must be struck for Kellerman books to be truly great and thus earn the five stars available.

What did you find wrong about the narrator's performance?

The narrator for this novel was great, as usual. If the book was faster paced and more exciting, the narrators true and extensive gifts would make all of us love this book even more. It was Kellerman that handcuffed the narrator. This story was a little too slow for John Rubenstein to truly shine

Do you have any additional comments?

"GUILT" is still a great listen, and I'm glad I spent the money to buy it. It's just that Kellerman has to balance and combine his two main characters and the bones of a good murder mystery a wee bit better in order to deserve that fifth star.

Another great book by Jonathan Kellerman!

Wonderful narration!! This guy always gets the voices and pronunciations correct which makes a HUGE difference! interested story that never lagged.

Kinda disjointed

If you could sum up Guilt in three words, what would they be?

Held my attention. However, it's as though Kellerman started a different book, then digressed, and had a bit of trouble tying the ideas together. I couldn't have done better so I'm not complaining, just commenting.

As always, a great read!

Enjoy complex characters and lots of twists and turns...including the last 30 seconds of the book. Another great Alex and Milo adventure.

Not bad, but not one of the best that I've heard.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

The story just seemed to move too slowly. Some of the characters were just annoying.

What about John Rubinstein’s performance did you like?

The narrator was not the problem, the story was just mediocre.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Probably not. Wouldn't be a terrible movie, just not the best.